Water-tank heater.



C. S. HUBER. WATER TANK HEATER. APPLICATION FILED 05c. 20, 1913.

l am y C/zcwies 5, J7me? HE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHOU WASHINGTON. D1 1.

WTED stares Parana ent ies.

CHARLES S. HUBER, OF DAVENPORT, IOW' A, ASSIGNOR TO POSITIVE SUPPLY COMPANY, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

WATER-TANK HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed December 20, 1913. Serial No. 807,839.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES S. HUBER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l/Vater-Tank Heaters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to heaters for water tanks and more particularly to that type known commercially as submergible heaters using oil or any other liquid or other suitable fuel source of heat, and wherein the burner and drum inclosing the same are placed at or near the bottom of the tank and entirely or nearly surrounded by the water.

'One of the objects of my invention isto construct the casing thereof so that it will not leak and so that the heated products from the burner will be well distributed and circulate throughout and evenly heat the casing.

Another object is to construct the heater in such manner that the same is safe to use, simple to operate, and effective in accomplishing the purposes for which it is designed.

Still another object of my invention is to assemble the various parts of the heater so that access can be had to the interior of the drum or casing to observe the action of the burner, or to clean or repair the same or any other part without removing the same from the tank and without disassembling it.

The above and numerous other objects I accomplish by the means and in the manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical'side elevation of a stock-watering tank showing my improved heater in position therein. Fig. 2 is a con tral vertical longitudinal section of the heater. 7 Fig. 3 is a detail section of the oil receptacle and drum taken at right angles to Fig. 2 of the drawings. 7

Referring to the drawings, A represents a suitable watering tank or trough of any desirable shape or size and constructed. of any suitable material. During freezing weather the water in said tank is liable to freeze and much suffering caused to the live stock unless the water is kept at a higher temperature than the freezing point.

My improvements for accomplishing this object comprises two parts, namely, the heater proper which is submerged and rests upon the bottom of the tank, and the reservoir for the fuel supply that is supported above the surface of the water.

The heater proper, preferably, comprises a suitable base 1 and an upwardly extending cylindrical casing that arises above the level of the water. This base and annular cylin drical casing may be made of a single castmg or it may be made of a cast-metal base and a sheet metal casing or section pipe. In the latter event, the annular, upwardly extending flange or wall 2 of the base has a shoulder 3 formed in its inner circumference by increasing the internal diameter of the upper portion thereof, and the lower end of the cylindrical pipe or casing 4: is inserted into the said base until its lower edge is seated on said shoulder and then cemented or cast therein, or otherwise manipulated to make a water tight joint between said casing and base. This casing 4: is, preferably, of sufiicient height to permit the upper end thereof to rise above the normal high-water level of the tank, and its upper end is closed by a suitable removable cover 5 having a downturned flange 5 that fits down over the upper edge of said casing, as shown.

A suitable metal rod 7 is secured to and depends from the center of cover 5 the upper end of which extends above said cover and has a suitable handle such as the butterfly nut shown at the upper projecting end of the rod with which to lift it and said cover. The lower end of the rod terminates a suitable distance above the burner and has one or more baffle-plates or deflectors 8, 8, secured concentrically thereto at suitable dis tances apart that are, preferably, slightly less in diameter than the inner diameter of the casing,and, above the burner, divide the Isoame into several compartments or chamers.

It will be observed that the rod 7 provides a rigid connecting means between the cover and the baffle-plates or deflectors 8, 8, so that said cover is fitted upon and said rod and baflie-plates are fitted into and withdrawn from the casing in about the same manner as a cork or stopper is inserted in or withdrawn from a bottle, that is in a straight longitudinal direction relatively to the casing. In other words, the complete cover structure comprising the cover itself, the rod 7 and the baffle-plates 8, 8, constitute a practically rigid unit which can only be fitted into or removed simultaneously from the casing by movement in a straight vertical direction. By this construction the cover is automatically centered as it is fitted upon the casing, and cannot be lifted at one side or tilted or turned sidewise. Likewise the baflie-plates or deflectors are always maintained firmly in their separated horizontal position within the casing and cannot be tilted or turned therefrom either by upward pressure of the heated gases of combustion or from any other cause. This also prevents any rattling of the baflie-plates within the casing when the heater is in position. These deflectors are provided with openings 8 therein that are in staggered relation to one another to provide for the escape of and to insure the proper circulation of the'products of combustion from the burner around the casing. One or more outlet openings or ventilators 9 are also providcd in the cover to permit of the escape of the products of combustion from the burner. By removing the ooverand the deflectors depending therefrom the attendant is able to examine the burner at the bottom of the drum without disturbing it in order to determine whether or not the proper combustion is taking place, and can clean it or make any ordinary repairs without removing it from the heater.

The base-plate has several conical-shaped bosses 1 arising from its upper surface that support the hydro-carbon burner 6 so that air can circulate beneath it, and this burner receives its supply of oil or other suitable fuel from a reservoir mounted above the tank. bustion purposes through a vertically disposed pipe, which may be located within the cylinder or casing or on the exterior, as shown in the drawings. In the event this vertically disposed pipe is outside the drum, I tap a suitable nipple into the base-plate, screw into this an elbow joint and then screw into this elbow a vertically disposed pipe 10 that extends to above the top of the water-tank where it enters the bottom of and suitably supports a sheet-metal drum 11 that incloses the oil reservoir 14;, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Pipe 10 serves the double purpose of an air'inlet for the base of the heater, and also a shaft down through which the pipe 20 that supplies the oil to the burner extends.

Drum 11 is of a somewhat flattened cylindrical shape and has a vertical sliding door l6 in its end wall adjacent pipe 10, and near its top said drum has, at opposite sides thereof,'suitable openings 13 for the admission of air into the same. These openings are, preferably, arranged in horizontal or- Air is admitted to the base for com der, and are, preferably, protected by suitable horizontally disposed vizors or hoods 17, that prevent the dust, rain or snow en-3 tering through the openings into the same. This drum may be dispensed with, although I much prefer its use, particularly when the heater is used out of doors or in unsheltered places...

A suitable receptacle 14: for oil or other fluid fuel is placed and suitably supported within drum 11, that is provided with a suitable inlet on top and a suitable discharge or needle-valve 19 projecting from the side,

near door 16, near its bottom; This needlevalve can be easily manipulated by hand through door 16, and the oil therefrom drops into a funnel 21 and drains from the latter into the pipe 20, which latter is of comparatively small diameter and, as hereinbefore stated, extends down through pipe 10 into the lower end of the casing of the heater and is connected to and discharges into the burner. f

In operation, the needle-valve is opened a r sufficient distance to permit the feeding ofthe fuel to the burner and the latter is then lighted. The heated productsof combustion rise in the casing circulating around the edges of the baflie-plates and through the openings therein and heat the casing; The.

heat thus generated warms the water in the tank while the heated products of combustion are discharged through the ventilator 9 in the cover of the casing, and rising keeps the drum at such atemperature as to keep the liquid fuel in such condition that it would flow easily regardless ofthe low tem perature.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a water tank heater, a watertight as the cover is fitted upon or removed from said casing, a burner in the lowermost compartment, an air inlet'pipe for said casing, and a fuel supply pipe within said inlet pipe connected burner.

2. In a water tank heater, a water tight.

casing, an air inlet pipe therefor, a burner in the lower portion of said casing, a fuel supply pipe within said air inlet pipe connected to said fuel supply pipe, a removable cover for said casing, a vertical rod rigidly secured to and depending from said cover, and horizontal partitions rigidly mounted in separated position on said rod.

3. In a water tank heater, 2. water tight at its lower end'to said easing, an air inlet pipe therefor, a burner in the loWer portion of said casing, a fuel supply pipe within said air inlet pipe having connection to said fuel supply pipe, a removable cover for said casing, a vertical rod rigidly secured to and depending from said cover, and horizontal partitions rigidly mounted in separated position on said rod; said cover, rod and partitions forming a rigid structure Which is adapted to be moved in a straight longitudinal direction as a unit into and out of position relatively to the casing.

4. In a Water tank heater, a Water tight casing, an air inlet pipe therefrom a burner in the lower portion of said casing, a fuel supply pipe Within said air inlet pipe conneoted to said fuel supply pipe, a removable cover for said casing, a vertical rod rigidly secured to and depending from said cover, and horizontal partitions rigidly mounted in separated position on said rod; said partitions being perforated, and said cover, rod and partitions forming a rigid structure Which is adapted to be fitted in position rela tively to the casing with the cover upon the mouth of said casing and the rod and partitions depending Within said casing, and all parts of Which are adapted to be Withdrawn simultaneously from the casing by movement in a straight longitudinal direction.

Signed at Davenport, Scott county, Iowa, this 15th day of December, 1913.

CHARLES S. HUBER.

Witnesses:

C. M. SEVERIN, J. REED LANE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

